Linde posts first-half operating profit up 13.6%, confirms outlook

9:13 AM MDT | July 30, 2013 | Michael Ravenscroft

Linde Group reports that its operating profit increased to €1.97 billion ($2.61 billion) in the first half of 2013 compared with €1.731 billion in the year-ago period, a rise of 13.6%. Sales were up 10.5%, to €8.21 billion, versus €7.43 billion in first-half 2012. After adjusting for currency exchange rate effects, the increase in revenue was 12.7%. Second-quarter figures have not been disclosed. "We have held our own quite well in the first half of the year in an environment that is challenging to everyone," says Wolfgang Reitzle...